Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, always the gentleman as a California congressman and CIA director, is really getting into the job he took over last April. At least the salty language part.
At Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisana Friday, he spoke honestly about the defense budget and what he thinks of explaining his figures to congressional budget committees.
To laughs from the airmen, Panetta, said: “And as you’ve seen, I’ve been in hearings for the last three days. S—, I think I should get some kind of award going through that crap. I told General Dempsey I need a new combat badge for going to Capitol Hill — with clusters.”
Gen. Martin Dempsey is the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Panetta spoke to the airman after earlier in the week testifying to both the House and Senate Armed Services Committee and the House defense appropriations committee, sessions of about four hours each.
Testifying is a turn of tables for Panetta. He was once the chairman of the House Budget Committee.
